Notes from April //

and what's ahead for the summer

I don’t often hear people say that spring is their favorite season.

Spring is my favorite season.

I love the rebirth. The leaves returning, flowers emerging. I plant the herbs that live on my back porch. I am itchy to pick up my cameras and shoot again. It’s when I finally feel energized again and am ready to tackle the plans I have been conceptualizing in my head all winter. Like repainting every room in my home. Anyone want to come help me paint?

April was when I picked my cameras back up for the season and my first week was full of everything I love most about photography. I photographed a few home sessions, photographed a friend as she was about to release her book, worked with my friend Marissa on some new branding photography for her company Great Lakes Tinned Fish. I photographed a family days before they had to put down their family dog. I photographed couples and families in Holland amongst the (quickly fading) tulips. Each session highlighting again why I love what I do so much.

I also have been painting the spring things that I’ve been feeling and seeing. A windmill series and some tulips. Those are up at my shop at Maison Blanc.

As I am still navigating the Substack terrain, I thought about giving some structure to my articles for those that are enjoying following me along here. This could change, but I think I am going to highlight a few various categories : Photography, Art, Favorite Things and a Recipe. I also have a giveaway gift so keep reading!

PHOTOGRAPHY

The case for a last minute shoot //

Megan’s sister Alex contacted me the other and said ‘my sister and their family have to put Roux down in the next few days. can you document them with him before he has to go’.

This request was especially touching to me as Megan did this for her sister a few years ago when Alex’s sweet family dog had to say goodbye.

Their session was at home, last minute. It wasn’t about perfection of outfits or the best light of the day. It was about connection and saying goodbye. Of laughing over their dog’s love of Cheez-It crackers. Embracing the emotion, the happy ones and the hard ones.

You will rarely regret booking a session to remember a loved pet and my own family did this a few years back when we knew our dog Tanner was going to say goodbye.

Art

I have loved slowing down the past few months to be able to paint. I have been most inspired by places and people and textures. This piece above is called ‘Rivulet’ and I painted this a few weeks back during a rainy spring afternoon. And if you keep reading…you could win a print of this for free!

And if you have been waiting for my new work to hit my print website…it’s coming soon. The fun part of being a creative is, well, creating. The harder part is all of the back end things that need to be accomplished.

Favorite Things

I wanted to start this section as I love seeing other people share their favorite things. In fact, I have had several get-togethers with girlfriends in the past few months where we share our favorite things with each other. Here is a list of mine as of late.

First up is this deodorant balm that I picked up on a whim at a boutique in Northern Michigan last summer. I have been on the hunt for literally years for an aluminum-free deodorant that actually works and doesn’t contain ingredients that tear up my armpits. And I’ve tried them all. Native, Salt+Stone, Primally Pure. I even tried making my own that I saw a creator on TikTok make. None of them worked.

When I grabbed this tube, I truly got it more for the scent than actually thinking it would do as promised and now, nearly a year later, it’s the tried and true, all natural deodorant that actually works for me. And the bonus is the smell is incredible.

I love the Orange Grove scent the most but there is a discovery set that you can purchase to find your favorite one. The Halcyon Summers is a close second as my favorite.

I also cannot recommend Sarah Sherman Samuel’s new book enough. It’s eye candy from the first to last page and shows such a stunning array of her creative endeavors. I’m lucky enough to call her a friend and forever in awe of her talent.

You can snag her book here, or if you are local to the Grand Rapids area, at Orchard House Books.

A Recipe

A recipe? Random, possibly. But every time I share something that I am making in my kitchen on my IG stories, you ask for the recipe. It’s easier to share here so…here we go.

First up is a Savory Herbed Dutch Baby.

I made this the other day when my friend Michele came over to help me get my bookkeeping back in order. To thank her, I made her brunch. I often make a sweet Dutch Baby for my family on the weekends but took a chance on this. And it was a real delight. It’s easy and quick and comes out of the oven all puffy and beautiful.

I have only made this once and made up the recipe. I haven’t tested it. I don’t have alternatives. I’m just sharing something delicious and easy.

Ingredients /

3/4 cup of milk (I used whole)
4 eggs
3/4 cup of flour (I used all purpose)
2 tablespoons of butter
1/2 teaspoon of salt
Fresh, chopped herbs (as many as you like. I used chives, parsley, dill and basil. Thyme would be a great addition as well)
3/4 cups of cheese, shredded (I used cheddar but you could use any that you like)

Preheat your oven to 350 degrees and put a cast iron pan in while your oven preheats. I add the butter to the cast iron pan when my oven gets to about 250 degrees to melt.

Whisk the eggs, milk, flour and salt together. Add in the chopped herbs and shredded cheese. Once the oven is to temp, take out your cast iron pan with the melted butter, add in your batter and bake for about 22 minutes.

Serve with additional chopped herbs on top. Enjoy!

(also, if you don’t have a cast iron pan but have been thinking of purchasing one, I love the Lodge Cast Iron pans and this 12” pan is on sale for $31.

A giveaway!

I want to give one of you this 8x10 print reproduction of Rivulet…for free! To enter for a chance to win, simply comment in this post where you would put your print! I’ll be announcing the winner in my next Substack and will (hopefully) have these and more up on my website for purchase, soon.

And to end, a Spotify playlist for you

Some recent favorites for you to enjoy.

Thanks for reading!